Bosom-stretcher for shirt-ironing machines



' (No Model.) I

. W. A. E. HENRICI.

BQSOM STRETGHER FOR SHIRT IRONING MACHINES.

No. 568,850. v Patented Oct. 6, 1896.

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ATENT OFFICE.

CHELSEA, MASSACHUSETTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 568,850, dated October 6, 1896.

lApplication filed June 1 6, 1896.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. E. HENRIOI, of Ohelsea,county of Suffolk,and Stateof Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Bosom-Stretchers for Shirt-l ronin g Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object the production of a readily operated device for stretching the bosom and holding firmly the neckband of a shirt upon the Work-support of an ironing-machine while the shirt-bosom is being ironed, and it is particularly adapted for use with outing or other shirts having attached collars.

When such a shirt is to be ironed, it is laid upon a suitable support over which an iron may be moved by the operator, the lower end or skirts of the shirt being clamped in any suitable manner.

In order to keep the bosom smooth and taut while being ironed, itmust be stretched and held at the neck end, but withoutinterfering with the operator in manipulating the iron, and the retaining device must also be easily put into operative or inoperative position.

Figure 1, in front elevation, representsa bosom -ironing machine with my. bosomstretcher and neckband retainer applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a top or plan View, enlarged, of the bosom-stretcher detached; and Fig. 3 is an outer end View thereof in operative position.

In Fig. l I have shown my present invention as applied to a bosom-ironing machine substantially such as is shown in United States Patent No. 556,820, granted to me March 24, 1896, with the yoke-clamp omitted, and the frame A, its top A, the work-support E, the swinging frame C, to which the iron I is attached, the skirt-clamping arm g, and its operating-handle g may be and are all as shown in the patent referred to, to which reference may be had.

As shown in Fig. l, a stand a is rigidly secured to the under side of the work-support E by suitable means, as bolts 2, the stand having a hollow boss (1 to receive therein the vertically-movable depending shank b of Serial No. 595,765. (No model.)

the stretcher-support, held in adjusted posi tion by a set-screw 3. Such vertical adj ustment is desirable to keep the neckband-holder to the desired height when in operative position, the said support being beyond the neckband of the shirt S (see dotted lines, Fig. 1) and in the central line of the bosom thereof.

The upper end of the shankb is bifurcated to form a yoke 12', which sustains journals b herein shown as screw-threaded, for a rocker 0, provided with suitable bearings for the journals,whereby the rocker can be tipped on a horizontal axis. The rocker c has an upturned ear 0, slotted parallel to its axis, to receive therein a lever d, having a cam portion (1', the slot 0 intersecting a squared or polygonal opening at right angles thereto through the rocker.

One of the arms, as 19 of the yoke b is upwardly extended and recessed or grooved in its inner face at b in the path of the cam d when the latter is in operative position, Figs. 2 and 3 and full lines, Fig. 1, to thus lock the rocker from movement.

The band-holder proper consists of a curved, preferably metal, plate f, adapted to be inserted within the neckband or collar of the shirt and rest against the back part, as shown in Fig. 1, the plate f beingsecured to acurved seat f on the end of a supporting-arm f shown as square in cross-section, and entering the longitudinal opening in the rocker c.

When the handle 01 is turned down, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the cam cl not only locks the rocker from movement, as described, but the periphery of the cam bears upon the top of the arm f and clamps it firmly, preventing its movement longitudinally in the rocker, so that the band-holder f is clamped in desired position, holding the shirt at the neck end with the bosom stretched and ready to be ironed. V

In operation the attendant lays a shirt upon the work support, clamps the skirts, the holder f being unclamped and in dotted-line position, Fig. 1. The attendant moves the holder down into the neckband or collar, drawing its supporting-arm f forward for the purpose, after which the holder is moved outwardly with one hand, stretching the shirt-bosom, the arm f sliding outwardly in the rocker c. \Vhen the bosom is taut, the handle (I is moved into locking position, clamping the arm and locking the rocker, so that the holder fis held immovable, as in full lines, Fig. 1. To release the shirt, the handle (Z is turned up, unlocking the rocker and unelamping the holder-arm, the weight of the outer portion of the arm f usually be ing sufficient to lift the holder f up into dotted-line position, as shown in Fig. 1. The plate f is made quite deep from its upper to its lower edge, as shown, and the scat f is secured to its upper portion, so as to leave a considerable space beneath the arm f in which the iron can be moved, if necessary.

As shown in Fig. 1, the lower edge of the holder f does not rest on the shirt, as it is only necessary for the holder to bear against the inside of the neckband or collar at its back.

A lug 5 on one side of the handle (I, Fig. 2, is adapted to bear against a projection (3 on the slotted ear 0 of the rocker when the latter is unlocked, to limit the movement of the handle in that direction.

By my invention the ironing of outing and similar shirt bosoms is greatly facilitated, as the bosom is maintained stretched an d smooth while the attendant has both hands free to manipulate the iron.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a bosonnstretcliing device for shirtironing machines, a holder to engage the neckband or collar of the shirt, a rigidly-at tached arm, a pivotally-mounted support [or and in which said arm islongitudinallymovable, and means to lock the arm and retain the holder in fixed position, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the class described, a vertically-adjustable pivotally-mounted rocker, an arm longitudinally movable in the rocker, a holder on said arm, to engage the neckband or collar of ashirt, and means to simultaneously lock the rocker from pivotal movement and to clamp the arm therein, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the class described, ayoke having a depending shank, means to hold the latter in vertically-adjusted position, a rocker pivoted in the yoke, a holder having an arm longitudinally movable in the rocker, and means carried by the rocker to clamp the arm therein, substantially as described.

4. In a device of the class described, a yoke having a grooved side, a rocker pivotally mounted in said yoke, a holder, an arm secured thereto and longitudinally movable in the rocker, and a locking member pivotally mounted on the rocker, to engage the grooved side of the yoke and prevent tipping of the rocker and also to clamp the holder-arm in the latter, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specificationin the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

\VILLIAM A. E. IIENRICI. lVituesses:

JOHN C. EDWARDs, AUGUSTA E. DEAN. 

